Coronavirus (Covid 19) – Update

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Due to the ongoing Coronavirus Covid-19 situation all staff at the Barnet UNISON Branch office are working from home in line with the Government’s instruction.

If you are a member seeking advice or support from UNISON the quickest way to receive a response is to email us at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk, if at all possible. Alternatively you can call 020 8359 2088, if we are unable to answer the telephone please leave a message speaking slowly and clearly please include your name, telephone number, membership number and a brief message about the assistance you require. We will respond as soon as we can.

Alternatively you can contact UNISON Direct Call Centre by telephone 

08000 857 857 Monday – Friday 6am – Midnight, Saturday 9am – 4pm

or make an online enquiry by clicking the following link

https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/online-enquiries/

To Join UNISON click the following link 

https://join.unison.org.uk/

NJC industrial action ballot – England and Wales result

Austerity, National

The ballot of members for industrial action regarding 2021 NJC pay closed today in England and Wales (it remains open in Northern Ireland until 10 February).

 

The final results of the ballot are as follows:

 

70.2% of members voted YES to strike action

29.8% voted NO to strike action

The ballot turnout was 14.5%

 

It is clear that an overwhelming majority of those who voted were prepared to show their anger at the employers’ 1.75% pay offer by taking strike action. However, the turnout result is disappointing, and as you know, we can only take action if we achieve the turnout threshold of 50%.

 

UNISON’s NJC Committee meets next week, on Tuesday 18 January, and will consider next steps – as well as beginning to discuss 2022 pay. In the meantime, we would ask that branches do not post these results on social media, as this could be unhelpful in advance of the NJC Committee making any decisions. We will be writing to members and employers to inform them of the result.

 

We now have some more information about the GMB’s recent indicative ballot on industrial action. GMB have rejected the offer, but without getting the show of support necessary to give confidence that they would get the required mandate for industrial action. They are also now considering their next steps. Unite are currently balloting members for industrial action, and their ballots close on various dates from 17 February.

 

Branches and regions are thanked for all your efforts in campaigning for a ‘yes’ vote for action and maximising turnout. Despite not getting the turnout we needed, we are clear that the vote for action is something we must build on in future campaigns.

 

Contact NJCpay2021@unison.co.uk

End.

ASSIST – the 4th emergency service – to be privatised

ASSIST, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Local, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign

 

ASSIST ‘The 4th Emergency Service’

The Barnet Group have put out to tender part or all the services that our colleagues at ASSIST provide.

During the pandemic, Barnet Group management were calling ASSIST the 4th Emergency Service because of the vital services they provide to the most vulnerable in our community.

The service has been starved of investment, deliberately, by both the Barnet Group and the London Borough of Barnet, making it impossible for the service to ‘bid’ for contracts that would ensure the continuation of the service and enable it to expand.

UNISON have been informed that the yearly deficit to keep ASSIST open is £300k – but £140k yearly is the amount of unbilled service that ASSIST provides to the Barnet Group – and would have to be paid to any new provider, should any decide to bid on the tender.

Now LBB and TBG have decided that a new LBB directly funded role is merited in The Barnet Group a new ‘Head of Business Development & Transformation’ in Your Choice Barnet with a salary ‘outside’ of our Job Evaluation process but will be well in excess of £60k per year.

When will The Barnet Group and The London Borough of Barnet learn that it is frontline services to the public that should have priority when it comes to funding, not overpaid consultants?

What is to ‘Develop’ or ‘Transform’ if our services are privatised?

The message to the Barnet Group and the London Borough of Barnet is:

 The only TUPE out of the Barnet Group that is acceptable to ASSIST UNISON members is a TUPE back in to LBB

where the service came from in the first place.

Please send messages of support to ASSIST

via contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Barnet UNISON negotiates HGV drivers pay increase in November 2021

Austerity, Local, News, UNISON Campaign

After months of negotiations and feedback from our members an agreement was reached with Barnet Council back in November 2021 for all depot staff with a Class 2 HGV driving licence.

This is what was offered:

“

the council’s Corporate Management Team that a 10% recruitment and retention payment (based on your current core salary) will be paid to all employees required to have a Class 2 HGV driving licence for work purposes. This is to ensure your work offer and pay remains competitive and is such that you want to continue your employment with the council. This will apply for a 12-month period from 01 October 2021 and will be split into four payments. The payments will be made in your December 2021, March 2022, June 2022, and September 2022 payslips.

”

The first payment was made in December 2021.

 

End. 

 

 

 

 

 

Branch Christmas and New Year opening hours

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The branch office will be closed from 2pm on Friday 24th December 2021 and will re-open on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
If you have an urgent enquiry whilst we are closed, you can contact UNISON Direct on 0800 0 857 857.

UNISON Direct’s Christmas and New Year opening hours are:
December 24: 6am to 3pm
December 25 – 28: CLOSED
December 29 and 30: 6am to midnight
December 31: 6am to 3pm
January 1 – 3: CLOSED
January 4: normal hours resume. (Monday to Friday 6am to midnight, Saturday 9am – 4pm, Sunday closed) Webchat is available 9am -5pm
Further details regarding UNISON Legal Services, Regional Office contact details and Financial help can be located on the UNISON website by clicking the below link.
https://www.unison.org.uk/about/contact/

We would like to send our thanks to all the essential workers who will be working over the Christmas period and to all our members who have worked so hard to continue to deliver public services during yet another incredibly challenging year.

We wish you a happy Christmas and New Year.

Mental Health Support

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Whether you have been working throughout the pandemic, working from home, self-isolating or experiencing something else, Barnet UNISON understands the impact this may be having on your or a colleague’s mental health.

Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. Below are details about websites and organisations to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.

If you need support right now, please consider contacting 111 (NHS); 999 if you are experiencing a crisis; your local crisis mental health team; or speak to someone you trust. Please know there are people who will listen to you and support you.

Able Futures
Able Futures can help you manage your mental health at work so you can enjoy more good days. If eligible they provide you with nine months advice and guidance from a mental health specialist who can help you learn coping mechanisms, build resilience, access therapy or work with your employer to make adjustments to help your mental health at work.

Call Able Futures free on 0800 321 3137 from 8am to 10.30pm, Monday to Friday or apply online.
https://able-futures.co.uk/

Nafsiyat
Nafsiyat is an intercultural therapy centre, committed to providing effective and accessible psychotherapy and counselling services to people from diverse religious, cultural and ethnic communities in London.

 

They currently offer intercultural therapy to people living in the London boroughs of Camden, Islington, Enfield and Haringey. This therapy is short-term only, but available at no charge.

To access this therapy, you need either to be referred to us them, for example by your GP, or you can apply to refer yourself.
https://www.nafsiyat.org.uk/

NHS Every Mind Matters
Visit the NHS Every Mind Matters website:
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

Samaritans
When life is tough, Samaritans are here to listen at any time of the day or night. You can talk to them about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how difficult.
Call free on 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website

Shout 85258
Shout offers confidential 24/7 crisis text support for times when you need immediate assistance.
Text “SHOUT” to 85258 or visit Shout Crisis Text Line

Crisis support for young people
If you are under 35 and feel that life is not worth living any more, call Papyrus’s HopelineUK from 9am to 10pm weekdays and 2pm to 10pm on weekends.
Call HopelineUK on 0800 068 41 41
Text 07786 209697
Visit the Papyrus website

CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason.
Call 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Free, anonymous webchat with trained staff
Visit the CALM website

Hub of Hope
No matter what you’re going through, you should not have to do it alone. The Hub of Hope is a national database that brings together local mental health services.
Find support near you now

 
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